Summer is here! At this time of year, garages can get very hot. Standard garage weather stripping can help with this problem. These strips of flexible material are nailed to the outside of the garage door to seal the gap between the garage door and the door frame. By sealing the holes around your garage door, weather stripping enables you to efficiently heat or cool your garage throughout the year. Most importantly, weather stripping your garage door makes the garage a more comfortable place to spend time.
Know When It’s Time
When your garage door weather stripping gets old and needs to be replaced, you’ll be able to tell. It is important to inspect your garage door weather stripping on a regular basis to ensure that it’s in good condition. Rubber weather stripping will start to crack and may become discolored. If the weather stripping is made of foam or plastic, it may lose its shape and become permanently bent or squashed.
Ultimately, you’ll be able to tell when the weather stripping stops working because it will stop sealing the space around or under the door. When the weather stripping appears to be failing, it’s probably time to replace it.
Remove Old Weather Stripping
Weather stripping is usually nailed in place. To remove the weather stripping from the space around the door, squeeze a pry bar underneath the weather stripping and the garage door frame. Jiggle the pry bar enough to widen the gap between the weather stripping and the door, then pull gently on the weather stripping. If the weather stripping won’t come out easily, use the pry bar to pry it farther away from the door frame. Do this until the weather stripping can be removed.
How to Install Garage Door Weather Stripping
Measure the width of the garage door, then cut a piece of weather stripping to fit the space. You may need a pair of snips, a saw or a pair of pruning sheers to cut the weather stripping to the right length.
Nail the weather stripping into place at the top of the door. The weather stripping will attach to the door frame outside the door and will seal the space between the door and the frame. However, weather stripping will not impede the movement of the garage door when it opens or closes.
Most weather stripping will come with pre-marked holes to show where the nails are supposed to be. If the weather stripping you choose does not have pre-marked holes, you’ll have to guess. You may be able to insert the nails into the same holes that were used to hold the old weather stripping in place. Space the nails approximately 8 to 18 inches apart.
Next, measure the height of the garage door, from the top to the floor. Nail the weather stripping into place on each side so that the side pieces of weather stripping overlap with the top piece just attached.
Finally, cut the top piece of weather stripping at the corners to a 45-degree angle. This gives the weather stripping an attractive “finished” look. Check your weather stripping once per year to ensure that the weather stripping is in good condition. If it is not, replace it.
This is the right time of year to check and replace your weather stripping. If you have more questions about sealing your garage door, contact the experts. Contact Overhead Door Company of Oklahoma City today.
